not the right bike to become part of the mb gang

cullen_bay

i totally agree about the snobs on £1000-2000+ bikes. BUT, that is only if they are being snobs, looking down on someone with an expensive bike that cant ride for sh*t is wrong, its someones passion for biking that dictates whether they realise that you dont have to have a "super-bike" to ride well, or enjoy mtbing. even although i have a £1500 bike i still really enjoy taking my old £200 schwinn i had when i was twelve. I believe a very good cyclist once said "its not about the bike".

dave_hill

weeksy59 wrote:

i had to laugh reading a MTB mag.....


"Budget bikes tested"

Not one was under £1500.... LOLOL

Err, it was actually budget full suspension. When you think that decent-quality full suss varies between about £800 and £6K or so, I'd say that £1500 is quite "budget"... :shock:

And if I'm going to be REALLY pedantic (and why not, I usually am!!) the prices varied from £1399 to £1499, so they were all under £1500...

Banned!

yeah, but even so, a newcomer to the sport will look at that and think

'what? thats the cheap bikes? but what about that one I saw in the lbs for £700? that looked like a good bike, but now I think it must be crap!'

stumpyjon

Jesus_Christ wrote:

yeah, but even so, a newcomer to the sport will look at that and think

'what? thats the cheap bikes? but what about that one I saw in the lbs for £700? that looked like a good bike, but now I think it must be crap!'

Ok on that logic the whole sport / hobby / whatever you want to call it has to pander to beginners uninformed expectations.

The point is a lot of non riders still think a good bike costs £ 100 because it did when they were kids, they're wrong, life's a bitch live with it.

The upside is for most riding a £300 hardtail is more than capable and before people say that's still a lot of money put it into context, how many people have gone out and spent over £ 500 on an LCD to replace a working CRT one, how many people spend over a grand a year on booze and don't even realise or take aways. If they are fair play to them, I think it's a waste of money and isn't exactly the healthiest way to spend your money but if that's what they want to do that's up to them.

If you don't like all the high end reviews in the mags don't buy them, it's that simple. The mags will soon change their content if they aren't selling. I stopped buying the mags 10 years ago after I first started riding and realised everything they were reviewing was way more than I would pay for. I got back into riding more seriously 2 years ago and now spend more on my riding so the mag articles are more relevant, I now buy them again.

We're all different, some people take their riding seriously some don't, just try and respect other people's take on our shared hobby, no one's got it completely right.

The Northern Monkey

When we went to Glentress, the 1st thing my sister-in-law said was "OMG, bike envy or what".
It was really daunting parking up and seeing everyone on their £1000+ bike staring at you, trying to figure out what you got.

Andy B

I've only skim read this topic, but a few things caught my eye

I'm 30(something) & ride a £2k+ bike although it's taken me years to achieve this value of bike, I started out out in the mid 80's riding bikes that were utter shite (Raleigh Mustang etc!)

I'll ride owt (drop bar mountain bike anyone? http://www.flickr.com/photos/thecycledo ... 4/sizes/o/ not me riding it on that pic) and would not consider myself a bike snob as some posters seem to think that riders over 25 with £2k+ bikes are. Yes there are some idiots who will just go & buy the most expensive bike in the shop just to pose at the cafe, I am not one of them, nor are any of the over 25's I ride with (most of whom have £300-£1200 bikes)

Anyone with a passion for bikes will look at any bike just too see what it is & what spec you're running, this doesn't mean that they're seeing if your bike is shite or theirs is better, it's usually just curiosity

Expensive bikes are something to aspire to and will not stop those who are new to the sport from joining in, most of us had to start somewhere.

And to the OP, Claude Butler Cape Wrath's are very good bikes & very underrated by loads of folks, I'd be feeling smug that you've got one and it cost a lot less that a lot of bikes & rides just as well, if not better

joe1983

+1 AndyB on the aspirational aspect. I love looking at other peoples bikes expensive or not and the porn bikes in the mags, even though I can't yet afford one. At least I can dream! I really dislike the attitude of people judging those on an expensive bike negatively straight off the bat - they have probably worked hard and rewarded themselves with a bit of bling. Surely reverse-snobbery is just as bad as those on bling bikes who judge those on lesser machines, can you say hypocracy?

In terms of the mags - same reason why top gear doesn't review mondeo's and clio's every week.

Northwind

bigbenj_08 wrote:

When we went to Glentress, the 1st thing my sister-in-law said was "OMG, bike envy or what".
It was really daunting parking up and seeing everyone on their £1000+ bike staring at you, trying to figure out what you got.

That's why I'm so fond of mine... I always have the smug knowledge that to date, it's cost me less than the cheapest Malt1 yet kicks the arse of £1000 off-the-peg bikes But then, I'm a cheap-bike-snob

stumpyjon

Andy_B wrote:

Anyone with a passion for bikes will look at any bike just too see what it is & what spec you're running, this doesn't mean that they're seeing if your bike is shite or theirs is better, it's usually just curiosity

That is so true, bikes is bikes.

KonaMike

I bought my 07 Fury nearly 2 years ago and have slowly upgraded parts as they have worn out,to be fair the only major failiure was the rear wheel which was more down to my poor line choices

Anyway ...... as the wheels are heavy on the Fury I replaced them with Mavic 719's from Merlin which made a big difference to the bike ....... then one Sunday in the carpark at Cwmcarn I heard someone riding past say
' pppfffttt 719's on a Carrera ' Proof I would say that you cant ever please that type of rider and why would you need too :roll:

Just ride what you can afford and what works for you

Tallchap1

I have kinda skimmed over this post but I have to say there is nothing quite like whizzin past some guy with too much cash who has bought a really expensive bike and all the accesories and stuff on a bike that cost a small percentage of his wearin an old pair of tights and sportin a big grin. Magic.
Have to agree with some that the bike mags, as with all mags, tend to be geared more towards the expensive end of the scale, but they are designed to supply dream fodder. if they were full of cheap unexciting stuff they would not sell.

bellys

BigJimmyB wrote:

I know how you feel.

My first 'proper' bike was a Decathlon in 2007. Cost me £700 and was a good bike spec-wise (certainly no piece of junk).

I did feel a bit self concsious (sp) though as every other bugger had Spesh this and Kona that, but I knew I was reasonably fit and had come to Afan or the experience and to decide if MTB'ing was to be my next 'money drain'!

Anyways, some asshole with a 50lb Giant Downhill rig (why? Too much bike I thought for the trails) went past and looked at my bike and me like I was stuck to the bottom of his shoe. I felt rather inadequate I have to say.....

So, as we (mates and I) sat outside the repair shop, off he and his mates went up Whites Level.

My mate had a brake issue which took 20 mins to sort out. Anyway, off we set. 40 mins later I go past Mr asshole as he puffed and panted his way up the trail.

We rested 10 mins later and I expressed my joy at passing the oaf!

So - your bike is up to the job and you (being runners (or ex-runners)) will have a good engine on you.

Cobblers to the snobs, get out and enjor your riding.

ATB
BJB

same as you iv had 2 Decathlon bikes and there good value i had a lad on a kona take the piss out of my old hard tale but he was not so gobby when i beat him round the route we were riding.if your happy to ride your bike then sod em its what it meens to you.
welcome to the world of snobs get out on your bike and enjoy.

Niffleman

I have come across a great deal of this snobbery so far in life. It could be bikes, hi-fi, tennis racquets, cars, houses or anything. Some people think that the spending a lot makes you someone. I have often thought that such people might be trying to cover feelings of inadequacy or a lack of self esteem, and that they expensive purchase is either to make themselves feel better, or because they want you to admire them and they fear you might not.

If I were you, I would take absolutely no notice. If another person judges you before they even speak to you, then their opinion might not be worth valuing. The important thing is that you enjoy your cycling, wherever or however you do it. Indeed, the point is that you enjoy everything you can, life is not a dress rehersal!

Eranu

I've never come accross any of this, maybe I'm lucky or don't goto the "right" places.

My view is live and let live. If people want to buy or can afford to buy a top bike and all the gear then whats wrong with that? For all you know last week they may have been riding a £10 hardtail in jeans, just cos people have money doesn't give you lot the right to be-little them.

On the flip side they also have no right to look down on you, just ignore them or if it bothers you that much then perhaps you need to look at what your doing and get out there and earn more cash so you can buy what you want.

As for the "it makes them feel better" crap, get a grip people buy what they can afford, if you earn alot you spend alot generally speaking be it on cars, houses or bikes. See above paragraph for a solution to this.

To the OP Cape Wrath is great, enjoy it and from my experience I doubt anyone will look down on you, whatever you're riding, especially the so called evil over 25's.

Niffleman

Eranu,

I am not necessarily disagreeing with you. If you read my post carefully I said, "...such people might be trying to cover...". I am not saying it is true in all cases, just that it might be true in some. I do tend to ignore such people, and if I thought that earning more was very important, I guess I might be able to figure out a way of doing so, although I might have hit my earnings ceiling. I am not particularly clever or hard working, although I do enjoy what I do for a living, and I hope you do to.

It was not my intention to belittle anybody :? , but I would defend my right to speak to people before I judge them.

Eranu

I just using your post as an example, not attacking you. Apologies if it seems that way. I couldn't be bothered to go back and forth quoting everyone

supersonic

A 1500 quid bike is not a budget bike, full susser or not. I wouldnt even call a 750 quid bike budget.

shin0r

I disagree with the snobbery posts. I've never, ever come across snobbery in biking. If anything it's the opposite - people with "lesser" equipment feel the need to constantly justify their purchases. Don't flame me on this, it's the truth.

Actually you can directly map this behaviour to ANY forum, be it car, watch, even aquarium forums, the conversation is always the same:

You go on a VW Golf forum, it's full of people spewing cack over how they dusted this BMW, that Porsche or whatever.

You go on a watch forum, it's full of people with Seikos spewing cack about how their watch is technically superior to the latest Rolex or whatever.

"All the gear no idea, ahahaha I was faster/better/whatever on $CHEAPER_THING"

Conversely there are no Rolex forums where owners scoff at the peons with their Seikos, or BMW forums where owners post about how they dusted "some fag" in a VW Sharan. You'll find a dearth of posts on this forum where the owner of a £5k Santa Cruz extracts the urine out of someone's ASDA special.

Why does anyone care about what other people ride, or what other people think about them? Product of society? Self-esteem issues? Chip on their shoulder? Perhaps it's the human condition.

Discuss [/b]

Joe_Pineapples

Why does anyone care about what other people ride, or what other people think about them? Product of society? Self-esteem issues? Chip on their shoulder? Perhaps it's the human condition.

Discuss [/b]

Man, that's way too deep for 3 o'clock on a Tuesday afternoon. I have work to do!

supersonic

I think Shinor and many of us have different experiences. Both instances do exist, but its the snobbery I see more of.

Joe_Pineapples

It's mostly Glentress I ride and I've yet to find evidence of any snobbery to be honest. Maybe it's my rose tinted glasses, but it's yet to affect me.
It must take place somewhere, but I hope it stays there.

buzz1

Doesn't really matter what the stickers say (carrera) it's about riding!

Northwind

shin0r wrote:

I disagree with the snobbery posts. I've never, ever come across snobbery in biking. If anything it's the opposite - people with "lesser" equipment feel the need to constantly justify their purchases. Don't flame me on this, it's the truth.

Discuss [/b]

Out of curiosity, do you ride a perceived inferior brand? I suspect not, it took about 5 minutes between me arriving in glentress car park and the first sniffy carrera comment when I had my Kraken. If you're riding a more respected bike, then it's no surprise you don't come across snobbery.

Ben Ormshaw

Don't worry at all. I also started to think that you had to spend loads to be 'cool' - but after my trip to The Forest of Dean it was obvious that time on your bike is better than money. (as proven when i , on my trusty Trek 6000, easily caught some guy on up on a carbon hardtail.) Don't worry, the evidense is all around you.

Steve Peat's first bike wasn't a Santa Cruz - and his first bike will have taught him more than than the V10 anyway - stick at it.

cheddarpaul

I have a CB Cape Wrath 27 and a bl**dy good bike it is too. I went up Afan over the New Year and saw loads of mega-bucks bikes, and a few bargain buckets there too.... In the end, if we all get around in one piece, who cares what its on?
In all walks of life, theres always someone with more money, more show and more bravado and willing to look down their noses - let them!
I can look at the expensive bikes and admire them in the same way I admire a Ferrari or Kylie, but I am happy to get on my Cape Wrath and thrash it out with the rest of them.

Ignore them

jax22

just found this thread and yes your'e right my mates have a saying when were playing cricket? yes you can laugh now,but it goes ,,,,,,,,, all the gear and no idea,,,,, as we ball him out for a duck,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and why on reading this thread have i just posted another thread asking for opinion on a couple of bikes? if it suits you who gives a xxxx

nferrar

I've never experienced or witnessed any snobbery around bikes (apart from obvious jibes between mates and back when I was like 12 and had the wrong model BMX ). Anyway what could be cooler then doing well in an MTB race on an £80 Asda full suss - I know I'd feel a lot less embarrassed than the guy behind me on a £3500 uber bike.

nik young

never came across bike snobbery people are usually to busy looking at my gold teeth and all my tattoos to look at my bike im well used to people judging me by my tattoos so nothing new there :roll:

Oceanblue

shin0r wrote:

I disagree with the snobbery posts. I've never, ever come across snobbery in biking. If anything it's the opposite - people with "lesser" equipment feel the need to constantly justify their purchases. Don't flame me on this, it's the truth.

Actually you can directly map this behaviour to ANY forum, be it car, watch, even aquarium forums, the conversation is always the same:

You go on a VW Golf forum, it's full of people spewing cack over how they dusted this BMW, that Porsche or whatever.

You go on a watch forum, it's full of people with Seikos spewing cack about how their watch is technically superior to the latest Rolex or whatever.

"All the gear no idea, ahahaha I was faster/better/whatever on $CHEAPER_THING"

Conversely there are no Rolex forums where owners scoff at the peons with their Seikos, or BMW forums where owners post about how they dusted "some fag" in a VW Sharan. You'll find a dearth of posts on this forum where the owner of a £5k Santa Cruz extracts the urine out of someone's ASDA special.

Why does anyone care about what other people ride, or what other people think about them? Product of society? Self-esteem issues? Chip on their shoulder? Perhaps it's the human condition.

Discuss [/b]

An awful lot of truth spoken here - and it would certainly match with my experiences of forums

blister pus

I can well imagine it goes on and I could imagine the types doing it. But I can safely say, in the limited time I've been biking, I've met some great people, fun to be around with sound grounded attitudes. Long may it continue I reckon.